is my ram running at the right speed?

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  1. Posts : 306
    windows 7 64bit on both
    Thread Starter
       #21

    holy crap dude! thanks for that article! i had no idea about the memory controllers. i've been running these 1600 ram sticks since i built the system 3 years ago. although, i did have 2 x 2gb sticks of 1066 in with the 2x4gb sticks of 1600 up until about 1 month ago. thats when my buddy showed me why the ram was running slower than it could and so i took the 2 slower sticks out. but since around that time my computer seems to have been acting up. i'm actually in the middle of posting a BSOD crash thread right now. had the first actual blue screen only moments ago.

    thanks! great article.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,161
    Windows 7 Pro-x64
       #22

    stormy13 said:
    First of all on an AMD system the really doesn't have anything to do with the max speed of supported ram as the memory controller (also known as an IMC) is built into the CPU and not on the motherboard (same applies to recent Intel CPU's). The motherboard's memory support pretty much ends at which type it supports (most are DDR3 now), and what settings the motherboard manufacturer includes in the bios. That is how they say that it supports all those speeds over 1333 MHz.

    Seeing as you do happen to have an AMD based system, might want to give this a read,

    VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING AMD AM3 CPU's and RAM SPEEDS

    before worrying too much about getting faster ram. The motherboard manufacturers can say whatever they want with regards to supported ram speeds, as long as it supports up to 1333 MHz AMD spec. If the IMC on the CPU won't run it at those speeds (above 1333 MHz), then it doesn't matter what the motherboards makers say.
    Good info!
    Another reason for making AMD processors good dumpster candidates.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 306
    windows 7 64bit on both
    Thread Starter
       #23

    ok so i went into the bios and dropped the dram freq to 1333, i also stepped up the timings from 10-10-10-28 to 9-9-9-24 and it seems to be running fine. u think running at 1600 could have damaged my processor in the past month?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 66
    Windows 7 Home 64bit
       #24

    I've been running four 2GB sticks of Kingston HyperX at 1600MHz with 8-8-8-26 timings on my Phenom II X4 975 machine since last April, and haven't had any problems. The IMC on my chip can cope with speeds up to around 1866 MHz, so I've left plenty of headroom with my current setting.

    You're only running two sticks instead of my four, and I seriously doubt you've hurt your IMC.

    Edit: I forgot to mention that only some Phenom IIs are capable of running 1600MHz and higher, and those are the newer C3 steppings. Both CPU-Z and Aida report Phenom II stepping information.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails is my ram running at the right speed?-capture.jpg   is my ram running at the right speed?-stepping.jpg  
    Last edited by Raillex; 21 Feb 2012 at 01:03.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 306
    windows 7 64bit on both
    Thread Starter
       #25

    yea i think when i bought my 965 BE it was before the new C3 steppings came out.

    edit: of course i could be wrong. i downloaded that program you were using in your pics...AIDA64 extreme edition and maybe i do have the new C3 stepping.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails is my ram running at the right speed?-capture2.jpg   is my ram running at the right speed?-capture3.jpg   is my ram running at the right speed?-capture4.jpg  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 66
    Windows 7 Home 64bit
       #26

    socrgy9 said:
    yea i think when i bought my 965 BE it was before the new C3 steppings came out.

    edit: of course i could be wrong. i downloaded that program you were using in your pics...AIDA64 extreme edition and maybe i do have the new C3 stepping.
    Yes, you do. Both programs show you've got a Revision RB-C3 stepping.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 306
    windows 7 64bit on both
    Thread Starter
       #27

    hmm, so my cpu should be fine with the ram @ 1600 like yours is?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,879
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
       #28

    Everything you ever wanted to know about that particular motherboard (941 pages so far),

    [Official] MSI 790FX-GD70 Owners Club

    One reason that it isn't running stable with the memory is that you likely have the CPU-NB Voltage set to auto, which is the voltage for the memory controller. Right in the first post is what you are looking for,

    Q: "Why wont my RAM work at its rated specs?"
    A: Each set is different, but anything over 1333 is an overclock for the IMC. Also most RAM manufactures give a range of voltages(ex. 1.5-1.7) make sure to try manually setting your voltage to the higher of the two. Another thing, you may have to bump the CPU-NB volts to 1.3 or so depending on your exact setup. (let us know what is going on and we will try to help!)
    Instead of auto set it manually to 1.3V, and then try the ram at 1600 MHz again. If it still isn't stable then bump it up by .25 and try again.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #29

    I feel I have to reiterate what essenbe said some time back.

    "You won't notice a difference"

    Really, you won't. Absolutely nothing will may any noticeable difference in any way between 1033 or 1600 or 2000. NOTHING AT ALL.

    Having more ram rather than less ram will make potentially huge differences regardless of ram speed. An SSD will make your entire machine /feel/ 10x faster (though of course game frame rates will remain unchanged, but then your memory speed wont help with that either). A new video card can double frame rates, Overclocking your CPU can att a few % if you want to live on the edge. But memory bus speed? Keep it synced with processor and running at stock speeds for lowest wait states and cool and reliable performance. You DON'T want to mess with flaky memory settings or your entire system will dump and there is nothing at all to be gained from it.

    Just get your system STABLE and stop worrying about memory speed. It's 100% all advertising gimmick. Get good ram, vetted for your motherboard, run it at stock speeds/Voltage and multiplier for the motherboard and compute happy. :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #30

    To reiterate what fseal said, I have run this computer with 1600, 1866 and 2133 ram. I can not tell a difference in any of them. If you were to sneak in and change the ram, I would never know unless I ran a benchmark, which is the only way you will be able to tell.
      My Computer


 
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